Page 60 of Counting the Stars

“No, but I got you to take your mind off what we’re doing.” I give her a wink and settle into the too tight seat. “Damn, we should’ve flown first class.”

“Did you see how crazy expensive those tickets were?”

“Do you see how my muscular physique does not fit comfortably in this seat?” I retort. “How am I supposed to deal with this for the next sixish hours?”

“You can take a nap,” Gabby suggests.

“Are you going to let me sleep?”

“Probably not.” The airplane’s engine roars to life, and she pulls my hand into a death grip.

“Relax, the plane is just taxiing to the runway. We’re not taking off yet.” I dig into my pocket and hand her a piece of gum. “Here, chew on this. It can help with the air pressure when we take off.”

“Can we go over our plans once more? I need something to distract me from thinking about how this tin can is about to hurl us into space.” She pops the gum into her mouth.

“Now who’s being dramatic?” I roll my eyes, then start to go over our itinerary. We’re spending less than forty-eight hourstotal in New York. Neither of us could get much time off from work and the traveling alone eats up most of our time. “We’ll get into the hotel late tonight. I think it’s best to order room service because we’ll probably be exhausted, and with the time change, we’re going to lose three hours of sleep.”

“Deal. Although I can’t imagine I’ll be able to sleep tonight.” Her grip tightens on my hand as we begin our ascent.

“We’ll meet Lucia tomorrow morning at her house in the Bronx.” I project my voice over the sound of the engine. “How long we spend there will determine how much time we have left to explore the city.”

“I really hope we get to see Times Square. Mari and I always dreamed of visiting it. We wanted to see if it looked just like it does on TV. We also wanted to see the big tree at Rockefeller Center.”

“It’s a little too early to have the tree out just yet.”

“I know, but maybe we can at least see where it goes.”

“Sure,” I agree.I will take her wherever she wants.

The plane levels out at 35,000 feet and Gabby begins to relax in her seat.

“Wow!” She stretches over me to look out the window. “We’re in the clouds.”

“Yup. Do you want to switch seats with me?”

“Yes!” She excitedly nods. Gabby insisted on taking the middle seat. She was petrified that the window would pop out or something. I figured she’d enjoy the flight once the initial shock wore off, and it looks like my prediction is right.

“Do you think this is what Heaven looks like?” she asks dreamily while continuing to stare out the window.

“I’m not sure. But I certainly wouldn’t be upset with this view all thetime.”

“Me neither.”

I turn in my seat and hook my arm around the top part of her chest, drawing her back to my front so she can continue gazing at the heavenly sky. “They’re okay, baby girl. I have no doubt they’re watching over you.”

31

Gabby

“This is it.” I point upward to a set of windows. Lucia said she lived in an apartment above a deli. I have spoken with my long-lost aunt for a grand total of about fifteen minutes. I’m just grateful she agreed to talk to me at all. I understand her hesitancy. I kind of appeared out of nowhere claiming that I was her niece. She made it very clear that she would not provide any information unless I met her face-to-face. I suppose she figured I must be serious if I was willing to make a cross-country trip.

“It looks like the stairs are on the side of the building.” I walk over to the alley and begin my assent up the concrete steps.

“Man, I don’t think I could live like this.” Alex follows behind me.

“Why? Because your childhood home is the size of a mini mall?” It’s funny how I have yet to meet my aunt and I’m already feeling defensive of her. I’m sure my nerves are also getting the best of me. After we arrived at our hotel last night,we ordered room service. I could barely eat because my stomach felt like it had been knotted. Between the noise of the city nightlife and my fears about my meeting today, I got maybe three hours of solid sleep.

“What? No! You know I’m not like that. I was saying I don’t think I could live over a deli. I’d be hungry all the time.” He stops and takes in a deep breath. “Tell me you don’t smell a pastrami on rye with a dill pickle on the side.”

---